The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Contest soars for Malaysia, Singapore travel market

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 23, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Contest soars for Malaysia, Singapore travel market

T.S. Shankar

`Entry of private carriers a step in the right direction'

CHENNAI: A keen competition for the Southeast Asian travel market is on the cards with Jet Airways and Air Sahara getting set to fly to Kuala Lumpur from Chennai. Jet Airways has already begun direct flights to Singapore from Mumbai.

Taking advantage of the open sky policy, the Mumbai-based Jet Airways and the New Delhi-based Air Sahara will stimulate the overseas market further with fares tumbling. Freebies and value add-ons are also on offer.

With the south Indian travel market upbeat and the strategic location of the Anna International Terminal in Chennai for travel to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur coming in handy, the entry of the private carriers is a step in the right direction, says N. R. Kumaraswamy, president of the Travel Agents Association of India, southern region.

"We are waiting for a healthy competition". The opening up of the skies would enable agents to offer a choice of airlines and provide the best alternative to the travelling public.

According to Manoharan, Director of Tourism Malaysia, tourist arrivals from India have shown a sizable increase. Malaysia received 15,942 Indian visitors in January 2004; 14,198 in February and 23,778 in June. The average duration of stay was about 10 days. Tourism Malaysia has announced a 20 per cent increase in tourist arrivals from India.

Similar buoyancy prevails in the Singapore sector too. A healthy competition seems to be emerging in the Southeast Asian region, says Ranjit Malkani, chairman and CEO, Kuoni Travel Group India, who heads the Singapore Tourist Board Marketing Advisory Council in India.

High-spending group

Bridget Goh, area director for southern India, Sri Lanka and Maldives of the Singapore Tourism Board, said Indians ranked second among the high spending category of visitors. India was in the sixth position among the top 10 visitor-generating markets for Singapore.

"Singapore has witnessed a 25 per cent growth in tourist arrivals from India and the trend is increasing."

The new non-stop air links would further stimulate the Indian market. "It is a win-win situation for Singapore and Kuala Lumpur as the joint promotion is still on." Ms. Goh also heads the Singapore Visitors Centre here.

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